Dacia Spring Refresh: Still the Cheapest EV in Europe, Now Slightly Less Slow
Dacia’s plucky little electric car, the Spring, is getting a well-deserved upgrade. Still Europe’s most affordable EV, it now promises better performance, improved range, and a touch more composure on the open road—all while keeping its price tag refreshingly down to earth.
The 2026 Spring rides on a stiffer, updated platform and introduces two new motors rated at 70 and 100 horsepower, replacing the sluggish 45 and 65 hp units of old. According to Dacia, mid-range acceleration from 80 to 120 km/h improves by 20 percent, finally giving the car enough confidence to hold its own beyond city limits.
Despite the extra power and added tech, the Spring remains featherlight—just over one metric ton—making it the lightest fully electric four-seater on the market. That low weight, combined with improved aerodynamics, yields an official WLTP range of up to 225 kilometers and impressively frugal energy use at just 12.4 kWh/100 km.
Powering it all is a new 24.3 kWh LFP battery, chosen for durability and faster charging. With an optional 40 kW DC charger, the pack can go from 20 to 80 percent in just 29 minutes. The base Expression trim pairs the 70 hp motor with a 7 kW AC charger, while the top-spec Extreme variant gets the 100 hp setup and a larger 10-inch infotainment screen supporting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
True to Dacia’s “essential but cool” ethos, the cabin favors functionality over flash: hard plastics, rubber mats, and a surprisingly generous 308-liter boot (expanding to 1004 liters with the seats folded) make the Spring more tool than toy.
Pricing remains the model’s ace card—starting at €16,900 and staying under €20,000 even in full Extreme trim. In an EV market where affordability is increasingly rare, the Spring continues to prove that simplicity still sells.
